Sharp Mexico too good for rusty Italy

Mexico stun defending champions

Mexico proved too sharp for World Cup holders Italy by beating them 2-1 in a warm-up match on Thursday for this month's tournament in South Africa.

The world champions, whose previous match was a 0-0 draw with Cameroon in March, started brightly with Vincenzo Iaquinta heading against the bar in the third minute, but the harrying Mexicans then took over with far neater play.

The lively Giovani Dos Santos found Carlos Vela unmarked in the Italian penalty area and the Mexican striker comfortably scored in the 16th minute.

Veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco chipped over the Italian defence for Alberto Medina to settle the match in the 83rd minute.

Substitute Leonardo Bonucci pulled one back for Italy in a goalmouth scramble three minutes from time.

Schweinsteiger on the spot to lift Germany

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger converted two penalties in four minutes to give Germany a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Bosnia in their last World Cup warm-up game on Thursday.

Germany looked sluggish in the first half but substitutes Thomas Mueller, Marko Marin and Cacau added pace after the interval as Germany struck three times in 27 minutes.

Cacau, who replaced out-of-form striker Miroslav Klose and set up Philipp Lahm's equaliser, and Mueller, who came on for midfielder Piotr Trochowski and won Germany's second penalty, staked strong claims for starting spots.

"In the second half, despite three weeks of preparation, we increased the tempo again and that was good to see," Germany coach Joachim Loew told reporters.

"The potential is there. Everyone has worked hard and I think we have a good team, the mood is good in the team and we can play a good tournament," he added.

Navas earns Spain win over South Korea

Spain's Jesus Navas scored a stunning late goal to secure a 1-0 World Cup warm-up win over South Korea in Innsbruck, Austria on Thursday, when Cesc Fabregas returned to action after two months out injured.

The European champions fielded mainly second-choice players and were restricted to few sights of goal until the closing stages when the substitutes made their presence felt.

Arsenal midfielder Fabregas played for an hour without any problems.

South Korea produced a well-organised display in their last warm-up game before travelling to South Africa, where they begin their Group B campaign against Greece on June 12.

Spain have one more friendly against Poland next Tuesday before starting out in Group H against Switzerland on June 16.